Reusable non-invasive blood pressure monitoring system

Abstract

This document discloses a blood pressure monitoring assembly for monitoring a patient's blood pressure, comprising: a cuff connected to a rack, the rack including a series of holes along at least one end of the cuff, wherein the cuff includes an air bladder; a pinion capable of meshing with the series of holes on the rack; and a force sensor configured to sense tension applied by the cuff. The blood pressure monitoring assembly may include a light source and a light sensor integrated within the cuff. The light source may be configured to output light received by the light sensor. The amount of light received by the light sensor corresponds to blood pressure.

Description

[0001] Cross-references to related applications This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application 63 / 612,960, filed December 20, 2023, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This disclosure generally relates to a reusable non-invasive blood pressure monitoring system, which includes an adjustable-size ferrule surrounding an inflatable bladder. Background Technology

[0003] Continuous non-invasive blood pressure monitoring systems enable real-time measurement of blood pressure waveforms and derived hemodynamic parameters. Various techniques can be employed, including the volume clamp method.

[0004] Volumetric clamping uses an inflatable cuff, a light source (such as a light-emitting diode (LED)), and a light sensor to measure arterial blood pressure at the extremity (e.g., the finger). The pressure within the cuff is adjusted to maintain a constant arterial diameter (unloaded state), determined by the light source and light sensor. The pressure within the inflatable cuff represents the arterial pressure of the finger's artery. A pressure pump supplies pressure to the inflatable cuff. The inflatable cuff can be placed within a clamp. The clamp is adjustable to accommodate patients with different finger sizes. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In some respects, the technology described herein relates to a blood pressure monitoring assembly for monitoring a patient's blood pressure, comprising: a cuff defining a cavity for receiving a limb; an air bladder at least partially surrounding the cavity; a fixed end of the cuff connected to a base and a free end of the cuff movable relative to the fixed end to adjust the diameter of the cavity; and a force sensor configured to sense tension applied by the cuff.

[0006] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a blood pressure monitoring component, which also includes a computer comprising: a rack having a series of holes along a free end of a clamp; a pinion capable of meshing with the series of holes of the rack; a processor; and a memory, wherein instructions are configured to operate the processor to: receive force data from a force sensor; determine, by means of the force data, a tension force applied by the clamp; and operate the pinion based on the tension force applied by the clamp.

[0007] In some respects, the technology described herein relates to a blood pressure monitoring component, which also includes a light source and a light sensor integrated within a sleeve, wherein the light source is configured to output light received by the light sensor, and the amount of light received by the light sensor corresponds to blood pressure.

[0008] In some respects, the technology described herein relates to a blood pressure monitoring component, wherein instructions are also configured to operate a processor to perform a blood pressure measurement after operation of a pinion.

[0009] In some respects, the technology described herein relates to a blood pressure monitoring component, which also includes a motor attached to a gear via a shaft, wherein the gear drives a pinion.

[0010] In some respects, the technology described herein relates to a blood pressure monitoring assembly in which a pinion is operated based on the tension applied by a clamp, including: when it is determined that the tension applied by the clamp is too high, operating a motor that drives the pinion to adjust the clamp to loosen it.

[0011] In some respects, the technology described herein relates to a blood pressure monitoring assembly in which a pinion is operated based on the tension applied by a clamp, including: when it is determined that the tension applied by the clamp is too low, operating a motor driving the pinion to adjust the clamp to tighten it.

[0012] In some respects, the technology described herein relates to a blood pressure monitoring assembly in which a pinion is operated based on the tension applied by a clamp, comprising: when it is determined that the tension applied by the clamp is appropriate, operating a motor driving the pinion to maintain the tension.

[0013] In some respects, the technology described herein relates to a blood pressure monitoring component in which operating a motor that drives a pinion to maintain tension includes not providing a signal to the motor.

[0014] In some respects, the technology described herein relates to a blood pressure monitoring assembly in which a pinion includes teeth corresponding to a series of holes in a rack to move the rack and decrease or increase the size of the clamp.

[0015] In some respects, the technology described herein relates to a blood pressure monitoring component in which the gear includes teeth that are interlocked with the teeth of the pinion.

[0016] In some respects, the technology described herein relates to a blood pressure monitoring component in which a pinion is rotatable, wherein the rotation of the pinion causes linear movement of a clamp, thereby tightening or loosening the clamp.

[0017] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a blood pressure monitoring system for monitoring a patient's blood pressure, comprising: a blood pressure monitoring component and a pump system operatively connected to an airbag and configured to provide pressure to the airbag. The blood pressure monitoring component includes: a clamp connected to a rack, the rack including a series of holes along at least one end of the clamp, wherein the clamp includes an airbag; a pinion capable of engaging with the series of holes on the rack; and a force sensor configured to sense tension applied by the clamp.

[0018] In some respects, the technology described herein relates to a blood pressure monitoring system, which also includes a computer comprising: a processor; and a memory, wherein instructions are configured to operate the processor to: receive force data from a force sensor; determine, based on the force data, the tension applied by the clamp; and operate a pinion based on the tension applied by the clamp.

[0019] In some respects, the technology described herein relates to a blood pressure monitoring system, which also includes a light source and a light sensor integrated within a clamp, wherein the light source is configured to output light received by the light sensor, and the amount of light received by the light sensor corresponds to blood pressure.

[0020] In some respects, the technology described herein relates to a blood pressure monitoring system in which instructions are also configured to operate a processor to perform a blood pressure measurement after operating a pinion.

[0021] In some respects, the technology described herein relates to a blood pressure monitoring system, which also includes a motor attached to a shaft and gears, wherein the gears drive a pinion.

[0022] In some respects, the technology described herein relates to a blood pressure monitoring system in which a pinion is operated based on the tension applied by a clamp, including: when it is determined that the tension applied by the clamp is too high, operating a motor that drives the pinion to adjust the clamp to loosen it.

[0023] In some respects, the technology described herein relates to a blood pressure monitoring system in which a pinion is operated based on the tension applied by the clamp, including: when it is determined that the tension applied by the clamp is too low, operating a motor that drives the pinion to adjust the clamp to tighten it.

[0024] In some respects, the technology described herein relates to a blood pressure monitoring system in which instructions are also configured to operate a processor to operate a pump system to provide a certain amount of pressure to the airbag. Attached Figure Description

[0025] This specification will be more fully understood by referring to the following figures and data diagrams, which are presented as various embodiments of this disclosure and should not be construed as a complete description of the scope of this disclosure, wherein: Figure 1A A perspective view of the finger clamp system.

[0026] Figure 1B This is an exploded view of the finger clamp system.

[0027] Figure 2A A perspective view of the blood pressure monitoring component.

[0028] Figure 2B This is an exploded view of the blood pressure monitoring component.

[0029] Figure 3AAn example of a blood pressure monitoring component used in a patient's hand is shown.

[0030] Figure 3B An example is shown where a blood pressure monitoring component is used in the patient's hand and integrated with a computer system.

[0031] Figure 4A Front view of the portable monitoring system.

[0032] Figure 4B A top view of the portable monitoring system.

[0033] Figure 4C Side view of a portable monitoring system.

[0034] Figure 5 A sample data flow diagram of a blood pressure monitoring component is shown.

[0035] Figure 6 An example block diagram of a computer that controls a motor based on data from a force sensor is shown.

[0036] Figure 7 A conceptual description of the hemodynamic monitoring system is provided. Detailed Implementation

[0037] A universal, reusable blood pressure monitoring cuff provides continuous and accurate stroke-by-stroke measurements for any given size of patient finger without the potential for errors such as the cuff being too tight or too loose, or rotation relative to the finger. Proper fit and application of the cuff to the patient's finger is crucial for the accuracy of measuring hemodynamic parameters such as blood pressure, stroke volume, cardiac output, and stroke volume variability. This paper discloses a system and method for providing a universal fit mechanism for blood pressure cuffs to achieve secure fixation for various finger sizes. The disclosed technique eliminates the potential for clinicians to apply the cuff too tight or too loose to the patient by automatically adjusting the fit. Furthermore, the disclosed technique ensures proper placement of the plethysmography device used to measure arterial diameter.

[0038] Blood pressure monitoring systems may include finger cuffs that engage with a patient. The finger cuff may include a plethysmometer comprising a pair of light sources (e.g., LEDs) and light sensors (e.g., photodiodes) located on either side of the patient's finger. The cuff may also include an inflatable bladder that wraps around the finger. Accurate blood pressure readings depend on the proper application of the finger cuff to the patient's finger. In some embodiments, the cuff is oriented such that the LEDs and photodiodes are located on opposite sides of the finger, unobstructed by bone, and tight enough to provide adequate pressure. The finger cuff can be tightly wrapped around the finger to ensure secure placement. However, potential errors of use have been found with cuffs that are too tight, too loose, or rotated. An overly tight or loose cuff can cause pressure measurements on the cuff to increase or decrease, resulting in underestimated or overestimated blood pressure values, respectively. Rotating the cuff allows bone interference measurements to interfere with the pulse plethysmometer signal, leading to inaccurate readings.

[0039] Various blood pressure systems use the volume clamp method to monitor stroke-by-stroke blood pressure and assess cardiac output through pulse profile analysis. When pressure is applied to the finger via an inflatable bladder, a pulse plethysmography device measures a plethysmogram using plethysmography units located on either side of the finger (which include pairs of LEDs and photodiodes).

[0040] Turn to the attached diagram. Figure 1A and Figure 1BAn example of a finger ferrule system 100 is shown. The finger ferrule system 100 includes a ferrule 102. The ferrule 102 may define a cavity 105 for receiving a patient's limb (e.g., a finger). The cavity 105 may be configured to have an adjustable cross-sectional diameter, as further described below. The ferrule 102 may include a movable end. The movable end may be a rack 102a. The rack 102a is capable of linear movement to tighten and / or loosen the ferrule 102. As shown, the rack 102a is a strip with a series of holes meshing with a pinion, but any linear actuator used to provide linear movement of the ferrule to allow it to tighten or loosen may be used. The linear position of the holes may correspond to a certain dimension of the ferrule 102. As shown below, the rack 102a may be moved using the pinion to tighten and / or loosen the ferrule 102. The finger ferrule system 100 may include an air bladder 104, which may be inflated using a pump to provide pressure to the patient's finger. The air bladder 104 may be semi-cylindrical (with an open slit as shown) or fully cylindrical, with openings at the first and second axial ends to accommodate fingers or other limbs. The clamp 102 may also include a helical structure forming a cavity 105. The clamp 102 may include an inner end 102b enclosed by a movable end (e.g., rack 102a). The inner end 102b may slidably engage with the inner surface of the clamp 102 to allow adjustment of the cross-sectional diameter of the cavity 105. The finger clamp system 100 may be mounted on a base 108. The clamp 102 may be attached to the base 108. The attachment point of the clamp 102 may be located between ends 102a and 102b. The base 108 may be considered as the fixed end of the clamp 102, opposite the movable end (with rack 102a). The finger clamp system 100 may include a light source 106 for providing light to measure the arterial diameter of a patient's finger. The light may be sensed by a detector disposed opposite to the light source 106. Blood pressure measurements can be obtained based on the pressure within the airbag that maintains a constant arterial diameter.

[0041] Figure 2A and Figure 2B An example of a blood pressure monitoring component 200 is shown, which includes the components described above. Figure 1A and Figure 1B The described finger clamp system 100. The blood pressure monitoring assembly 200 includes a gear 202, which may be a toothed cylindrical member. The teeth mesh with holes in a rack 102a to tighten or loosen the clamp 102. The gear 202 is attached to a motor 204 via a shaft 203. This shaft is secured in place on a tension base 210 by a positioner 206.

[0042] The blood pressure monitoring assembly 200 includes a force sensor 208 for sensing the tension applied to a patient's finger by a cuff 102. A computer system acquires measurements from the force sensor 208 and controls a motor 204 based on the tension applied to the patient's finger. For example, if the tension is too high, the motor 204 can ratchet-drive the gear 202 in one direction to loosen the cuff 102, or if the tension is too low, the motor 204 can ratchet-drive the gear 202 in the opposite direction to tighten the cuff 102. The force sensor 208 can be a flexible force pressure sensor. The force sensor 208 can be a piezoresistive force sensor. The force sensor 208 can be a pressure sensor that may have a specific resistance depth determined by the force applied to it. Tension control may be based on a pulse plethysmography (PPG) signal. This signal can be received from a pair of LEDs and photodiodes on both sides of the finger. Tension control may be based on a PPG signal falling within a desired range. If the PPG signal is below a lower threshold, the tension can be relaxed until the PPG signal is above the lower threshold. If the volumetric plethysmometer signal is above the upper threshold, the tension can be increased until the volumetric plethysmometer signal falls below the upper threshold. Alternatively, tension control can be based on data from the force sensor 208 falling within a desired range. If the force sensor 208 data is below the lower threshold, the tension can be relaxed until the force sensor data rises above the lower threshold. If the force sensor data is above the upper threshold, the tension can be increased until the force sensor data falls below the upper threshold.

[0043] In some embodiments, gear 202 may be coupled to pinion 205, which may be used to replace gear 202 in meshing with the bore of rack 102a. Gear 202 may be used to drive pinion 205. Gear 202 includes teeth that are interlocked with the teeth of pinion 205. Therefore, gear 202 may be used to indirectly drive rack 102a via ratchet, rather than directly.

[0044] Figure 3A The above text is combined Figure 2A and Figure 2B An example of the described blood pressure monitoring component 200 when used on a patient's hand 302. As shown, the patient's finger 302a is placed within the sleeve 102. Although the illustrated patient's middle finger is placed within the sleeve 102, the sleeve 102 can be used with any finger. For example, the patient's index finger, thumb, index finger, or little finger can be used. Furthermore, the blood pressure monitoring component 200 can be used on any limb to measure blood pressure. For example, the blood pressure monitoring component 200 can be used on toes, arms, legs, etc.

[0045] Figure 3B The above text is combined Figure 2A and Figure 2BThe described blood pressure monitoring assembly 200 is used in a patient's hand 302 and is integrated with a computer system as an example. The bladder 104 includes a pressure port 107 fluidly connected to a pump (shown in the lower figure) to provide pressure to the bladder 104. The pressure port 107 may be a nozzle, valve, or gasket. A pressure regulation system (PRS) 111 may be disposed between the bladder 102 and the pump 109, which senses and / or regulates the amount of pressure supplied to the inflation chamber. The pressure regulation system 111 may be controlled by a computer system 113, which may provide instructions to the pressure regulation system 111 to control the pressure according to a computer application used for measuring and monitoring blood pressure.

[0046] Electrical connection 115 can transmit power and / or data to and from sleeve 102. Electrical connection 115 can provide power and data to a light emitter and light sensor disposed within the housing. The light emitter and light sensor can work together to measure the diameter of the artery within the thumb, thereby determining an accurate arterial blood pressure reading. Data collected by the light emitter and light sensor can be provided via electrical connection 115 to computer system 113, which can then work in conjunction with pressure regulation system 111 to provide pressure to control the artery diameter.

[0047] Computer system 113 can integrate various calculation programs for calculating various arterial pressures (e.g., aortic pressure) from arterial pressure measured inside the thumb. Computer system 113 may also include a screen and user interface for displaying the various measured and calculated arterial pressures and allowing the user to interact with the blood pressure system.

[0048] Although the above reference Figure 3B A specific blood monitoring system configuration is described, but it should be readily understood that various blood monitoring systems and / or other medical monitoring methods used to provide blood pressure monitoring can be implemented in various configurations. Therefore, the various blood pressure clamps described herein should be understood as not limited to any particular blood monitoring system, but rather can be implemented using any of the various blood monitoring or medical monitoring systems capable of measuring arterial blood pressure.

[0049] Figures 4A-4C A portable blood pressure monitoring system 400 is shown, which includes the features described above. Figure 2A and Figure 2B The blood pressure monitoring component 200 for use on a patient's hand 302 is described. The portable blood pressure monitoring system 400 includes a pump system 402 that provides pressure to an airbag 104. The pump system 402 may be portable, allowing it to be connected to and carried with the blood pressure monitoring component 200.

[0050] Figure 5 The above text is combined Figure 2A and Figure 2BAn example data flow diagram of the described blood pressure monitoring component 200 is shown. A motor may initially be computer-controlled to perform an initial tightening on the patient's finger. A force sensor 208 outputs force data 504 to a computer 502. The force data 504 is analyzed, and a control signal 506 is sent to the motor 204 based on the analysis results. For example, if the force data 504 indicates that the tension on the patient's finger is too low, the control signal 506 controls the motor 204 to increase the tension on the clamp 102. If the force data 504 indicates that the tension on the patient's finger is too high, the control signal 506 controls the motor 204 to decrease the tension on the clamp 102. If the force data 504 indicates that the tension on the patient's finger is just right, the control signal 506 controls the motor 204 to maintain the tension on the clamp 102. In some instances, when it is determined that the tension on the patient's finger is just right, the control signal 506 may not be sent to the motor 204.

[0051] Figure 6 An example block diagram of a computer 502 that controls a motor 204 based on data from a force sensor 208 is shown. The computer 502 includes a processor 605, an external device 610, a network interface 615, and a memory 620. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the computer 502 may exclude certain components and / or include other components omitted for brevity without departing from the invention.

[0052] Processor 605 may include (but is not limited to) a processor, a microprocessor, a controller, or a combination of a processor, a microprocessor, and / or a controller, which executes instructions stored in memory 620 to manipulate data stored in memory. Processor instructions can configure processor 605 to perform processing procedures.

[0053] External device 610 may include any various components for capturing data, such as (but not limited to) a display and / or sensors. In various embodiments, the external device may be used to collect input and / or provide output. Computer 502 may utilize network interface 615 to transmit and receive data over a network based on instructions executed by processor 605. The external device and / or network interface may be used to collect input, such as force data from force sensor 208, to control motor 204.

[0054] The memory 620 includes a force assessment application 625 and a motor control application 630. The force assessment application 625 and the motor control application 630 can be used to control the motor 204 using force data from the force sensor 208.

[0055] The force assessment application 625 and the motor control application 630 can be used as described above. For example, the force assessment application 625 can receive force data from the force sensor 208. The force assessment application 625 can determine whether the force data indicates that the tension in the patient's finger is too high, too low, or just right.

[0056] The motor control application 630 can receive force data from the force assessment application 625 to determine the result. For example, if force data 504 indicates that the tension on the patient's finger is too low, the motor control application 630 can send a control signal 506 to control the motor 204 to increase the tension on the clamp 102. If force data 504 indicates that the tension on the patient's finger is too high, the motor control application 630 can send a control signal 506 to control the motor 204 to decrease the tension on the clamp 102. If force data 504 indicates that the tension on the patient's finger is just right, the motor control application 630 can send a control signal 506 to control the motor 204 to maintain the tension on the clamp 102. In some instances, when it is determined that the tension on the patient's finger is just right, the motor control application 630 may not send a control signal 506 to the motor 204.

[0057] Although a specific instance of computer 502 is shown in the figure, any various computers may be used as appropriate to control the motor based on force data from force sensor 208, depending on the requirements of a particular application.

[0058] The systems and methods disclosed herein can be used in non-invasive hemodynamic monitoring systems. Typically, a non-invasive hemodynamic monitoring system includes a pressure cuff, a plethysmometer, a pressure regulator, and a computer system. Figure 7 An example of a noninvasive hemodynamic monitoring system 900 for an individual finger is provided. A blood pressure cuff with a plethysmography (PPG) 902 is placed on the finger, which maintains a constant diameter of the artery within the finger during arterial pressure measurement. The pressure within the cuff represents the arterial pressure within the finger. The PPG also provides physiological data.

[0059] The blood pressure cuff with PPG can be connected to the hemodynamic monitoring system 900 and the pump system 904. Data can be transferred between the PPG 902 and the hemodynamic monitoring system. The pump system 904 provides pressure to the blood pressure cuff. The pump system 904 can also be connected to the hemodynamic monitoring system 900, allowing the monitoring system to instruct the pump system to provide the required amount of pressure to the cuff / PPG 902 to maintain a constant arterial diameter.

[0060] The hemodynamic monitoring system 900 may include a computer system. The hemodynamic monitoring system 900 may include a processor system 906 and an I / O interface 908 for data input / output, such as data communicated between the hemodynamic monitoring system 900 and the PPG 902, the pump system 904, and the user interface. The hemodynamic monitoring system 900 may utilize several applications stored in a memory system 910, executed by the processor system 906. Applications that may be stored in the memory system 910 include a real-time hemodynamic data application 912, a calibration application 914, and a pressure regulation application 916 for operating the hemodynamic monitoring system.

[0061] Although the above reference Figure 7 A specific hemodynamic monitoring system configuration is described, but it should be readily understood that various hemodynamic monitoring systems and / or other medical monitoring methods used to provide hemodynamic monitoring can be implemented in various configurations. Therefore, the various systems and methods described herein should be understood as not limited to any particular hemodynamic monitoring system, but rather can be implemented using any of the various hemodynamic or medical monitoring systems capable of measuring intrafinger arterial blood pressure.

[0062] In various instances, the portable blood pressure monitoring system 400 can measure continuous blood pressure in 95% of a given patient population using the volumetric clamp method. In various instances, automated mechanisms provide consistent preload for the volumetric clamp method. In various instances, fixed LED and photodiode positions ensure consistent plethysmography signals. In various instances, the portable blood pressure monitoring system 400 improves the usability of the finger clamp patient interface for healthcare workers by allowing them to tighten the clamp.

[0063] In various instances, the portable blood pressure monitoring system 400 can be set up quickly and easily in 30 seconds or less.

[0064] While the foregoing description contains many specific embodiments of the invention, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of this disclosure, but rather as examples of one such embodiment. Therefore, it should be understood that this disclosure can be practiced in ways different from those specifically described without departing from its scope and spirit. Consequently, the embodiments of this disclosure should be considered illustrative rather than restrictive in all respects. Therefore, the scope of this disclosure should not be determined by the illustrated embodiments, but rather by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A blood pressure monitoring component for monitoring a patient's blood pressure, comprising: A straitjacket, which restricts the cavity used to accommodate a limb; An airbag, which at least partially surrounds the cavity; The fixed end of the sleeve is connected to the base, and the free end of the sleeve is movable relative to the fixed end to adjust the diameter of the cavity; and A force sensor configured to sense the tension applied by the clamp.

2. The blood pressure monitoring component according to claim 1, further comprising: A rack, which includes a series of holes along the free end of the sleeve; A small gear that can mesh with a series of holes in the rack; as well as Computers, including: Processor; and Memory, wherein instructions are configured to operate the processor to: Receive force data from the force sensor; The tension applied by the clamp is determined using the force data; and The pinion is operated based on the tension force applied by the clamp.

3. The blood pressure monitoring assembly according to claim 2 further includes a light source and a light sensor integrated within the sleeve, wherein the light source is configured to output light received by the light sensor, wherein the amount of light received by the light sensor corresponds to the blood pressure.

4. The blood pressure monitoring component of claim 3, wherein the instructions are further configured to operate the processor to perform a blood pressure measurement after operating the pinion.

5. The blood pressure monitoring assembly of claim 2 further includes a motor attached to a gear via a shaft, wherein the gear drives the pinion.

6. The blood pressure monitoring assembly of claim 5, wherein operating the pinion based on the tension applied by the clamp comprises: If it is determined that the tension applied by the clamp is too high, the motor driving the pinion is operated to adjust the clamp to loosen it.

7. The blood pressure monitoring assembly of claim 5, wherein operating the pinion based on the tension applied by the clamp comprises: If it is determined that the tension applied by the clamp is too low, the motor driving the pinion is operated to adjust the clamp to tighten it.

8. The blood pressure monitoring assembly of claim 5, wherein operating the pinion based on the tension applied by the clamp comprises: When it is determined that the tension applied by the clamp is appropriate, the motor driving the pinion is operated to maintain the tension.

9. The blood pressure monitoring assembly of claim 8, wherein operating the motor driving the pinion to maintain the tension includes not providing a signal to the motor.

10. The blood pressure monitoring assembly of claim 5, wherein the pinion includes teeth corresponding to a series of holes in the rack to move the rack and decrease or increase the size of the sleeve.

11. The blood pressure monitoring assembly of claim 5, wherein the gear includes teeth that are interlocked with the teeth of the pinion.

12. The blood pressure monitoring assembly of claim 2, wherein the pinion is rotatable, and the rotation of the pinion causes linear movement of the clamp, thereby tightening or loosening the clamp.

13. A blood pressure monitoring system for monitoring a patient's blood pressure, comprising: Blood pressure monitoring components, including: A clamp connected to a rack, the rack including a series of holes along at least one end of the clamp, wherein the clamp includes an airbag; A pinion gear capable of meshing with a series of holes in the rack; and A force sensor configured to sense the tension applied by the clamp; and A pump system, operatively connected to the airbag, configured to provide pressure to the airbag.

14. The blood pressure monitoring system according to claim 13, further comprising a computer, the computer comprising: processor; as well as Memory, wherein instructions are configured to operate the processor to: Receive force data from the force sensor; The tension applied by the clamp is determined using the force data; and The pinion is operated based on the tension force applied by the clamp.

15. The blood pressure monitoring system of claim 14, wherein operating the pinion based on the tension applied by the clamp comprises: If it is determined that the tension applied by the clamp is too high, the motor driving the pinion is operated to adjust the clamp to loosen it.

16. The blood pressure monitoring system of claim 14, wherein operating the pinion based on the tension applied by the clamp comprises: If it is determined that the tension applied by the clamp is too low, the motor driving the pinion is operated to adjust the clamp to tighten it.

17. The blood pressure monitoring system of claim 14, wherein the instructions are further configured to operate the processor to operate the pump system to provide a certain amount of pressure to the airbag.

18. The blood pressure monitoring system of claim 13 further includes a light source and a light sensor integrated within the sleeve, wherein the light source is configured to output light received by the light sensor, wherein the amount of light received by the light sensor corresponds to the blood pressure.

19. The blood pressure monitoring system of claim 18, wherein the instructions are further configured to operate the processor to perform a blood pressure measurement after operating the pinion.

20. The blood pressure monitoring system of claim 13 further includes a motor attached to a gear via a shaft, wherein the gear drives the pinion.

Images